Blood found in suspect vehicles

DESERT AIRE — Blood was found in two cars searched in connection to the Desert Aire shooting death of an Ephrata teenager.

Michael Flores, 17, died from a single gunshot wound to the head July 11, while he was allegedly involved in a gang fight in Desert Aire. His body was found dumped in a roadway in Mattawa.

The blood was found Thursday while search warrants were executed, Grant County Undersheriff John Turley said. Another search warrant iws scheduled to be served on a third vehicle allegedly involved in the shooting.

Washington State Patrol forensic latent examiners are searching for finger prints on the vehicles and reviewing fingerprints found in the blood, he said.

A weapon was not found and there are no arrests, Turley said.

Previously two people were taken into ?custody as material witnesses to homicide but were released after Grant County Superior Court Judge John Antoz decided they were not flight risk.

On Wednesday the Grant County sheriff’s posse rode horseback between the site of the fight to where the teen’s body was dumped in search of evidence, Turley said. Nothing was found. The search was between Desert Aire and Mattawa and spanned about 10 miles.